What it does
The Southern Cross University Act 1993 establishes Southern Cross University as a body corporate under that name (s 5). It sets out the University’s object - the promotion, within the limits of its resources, of scholarship, research, free inquiry, the interaction of research and teaching, and academic excellence (s 6(1)). The Act lists the University’s principal functions: providing education and research of university standard (with particular regard to the needs of the north coast region of New South Wales), encouraging dissemination and application of knowledge, providing courses across a range of fields, carrying out research, conferring degrees and awarding diplomas and other awards, participating in public discourse, and developing governance and quality assurance processes (s 6(2)). The University also has commercial functions, including commercial exploitation of its facilities, resources, or property, and revenue generation to fund its object and principal functions (s 6(3)(a),(a1)). It may develop cultural, sporting, professional, technical and vocational services, and has ancillary functions necessary or convenient to promote the University’s object and interests (s 6(3)(b)-(c)). The Act provides that the University’s functions may be exercised within or outside the State, including outside Australia (s 6(4)). The governing authority is the Council of the University, which acts for and on behalf of the University and has control and management of its affairs (s 9A, s 16(1A)). The Act specifies the Council’s composition, the categories of members, and qualifications required. It imposes on Council members a set of duties set out in Schedule 2A, and provides a mechanism for removal for breach of duty (s 21G). The Act also deals with property management, commercial activities, and interaction with other legislation such as the Ombudsman Act 1974, the Government Sector Finance Act 2018, and the Government Sector Audit Act 1983 (s 17A). The Governor is the Visitor of the University but has only ceremonial functions and no jurisdiction to resolve disputes (s 14). The Act contains extensive savings and transitional provisions consequent on the University’s establishment from parts of the former University of New England (Schedule 3).